Insurance Fraud Sweep, 10 Suspects Arrested
Monday, June 30, 2014
June 27, 2014
OAG arrests 10 in Western Pa. insurance fraud sweep; several for illegal diversion of prescription drugs
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HARRISBURG - Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane today announced agents from the Insurance Fraud Section arrested and charged 10 Western Pennsylvania individuals for a variety of insurance fraud offenses.
Four of the arrests were joint investigations with the Bureau of Narcotics Investigation into the illegal diversion of prescription opioids, whereby fraudulent prescriptions were obtained for thousands of pills.
Attorney General Kane said that from the time a pharmaceutical is manufactured, it is her office's responsibility to account for the drug as it makes its way, legally, to the patient. Diversion occurs when that chain is broken and the Office of Attorney General is working to keep prescription drugs out of the wrong hands.
Campbell, Blumling and McCormick
Beginning in September 2012, Timothy Campbell, Ryan Blumling and Lucas McCormick allegedly worked together to pass fraudulent prescriptions in Campbell's name, obtaining more than 1,260 oxycodone pills over the course of the investigation. Campbell's insurance was used to pay for the prescriptions.
In April of 2013, McCormick and Blumling are accused of passing fraudulent prescriptions in Campbell's name without his consent, obtaining 360 oxycodone pills.
Blumling allegedly passed 18 fake prescriptions using the names of seven different doctors at 10 pharmacies, many of which were paid by his insurance. He allegedly obtained 2,460 oxycodone and 180 Xanax in this manner.
Campbell, Blumling and McCormick were arrested on June 26, 2014.
Timothy Campbell, 33, 115 Rebecca Drive, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, is charged with two counts of insurance fraud, one count of possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of forgery.
Ryan Blumling, 34, 1026 Broadhead Road, Moon Township, Allegheny County, is charged with five counts of insurance fraud, three counts of possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, three counts of forgery and two counts of criminal conspiracy.
Lucas McCormick, 32, 2 McKinley Square, Coraopolis, Allegheny County, is charged with four counts of insurance fraud, two counts of criminal conspiracy, two counts of possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge and two counts of forgery.
The cases will be prosecuted in Allegheny County by Deputy Attorney General Kara Cotter of the Insurance Fraud Section.
Bock
Melissa Bock, 26, 1119 Idaho Ave., Natrona Heights, Allegheny County, while an employee at Greater Pittsburgh Orthopedic Associates, allegedly wrote or called in more than 40 fraudulent prescriptions for Vicodin at pharmacies in three counties after stealing a physician's DEA number and posing as other employees.
Melissa Bock is charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery deception or subterfuge, one count of insurance fraud, one count of forgery and one count of identity theft.
The case will be prosecuted in Butler County by Senior Deputy Attorney General Jerome Orie of the Insurance Fraud Section.
Skrak
Brenhan Skrak, 35, 759 E. Portersville Road, Prospect, Butler County, faces a number of charges including arson and insurance fraud for allegedly starting a fire in his grandmother's home and collecting the insurance proceeds.
The charges allege that on July 24, 2013, Skrak started a fire in his grandmother's home and filing an insurance claim. Based on smoke and burn patterns, the fire is believed to have been started under a desk near the kitchen. Additionally, prior to the fire being set a computer, flat panel television and dehumidifier were removed from the home.
Skrak is charged with two counts of arson, one count of insurance fraud and one count of criminal attempt to commit theft by deception.
The case will be prosecuted in Butler County by Deputy Attorney General Kara Cotter of the Insurance Fraud Section. This case was a joint investigation with the Pennsylvania State Police.
The following individuals also were charged and arrested on June 26, 2014:
Matthew Masciarelli, 24, 2102 Boyd Ave., Connellsville, Fayette County, is charged with two counts of insurance fraud and one count of theft by deception.
Thomas Huth, 29, 67 Truckers Run Lane, Hedgeville, West Virginia, is charged with one count of insurance fraud, one count of criminal attempt to commit theft by deception and one count of criminal conspiracy to commit theft by deception.
Preston Miller, 40, 737 E. Graceville Road, Breezewood, Bedford County, is charged with one count of insurance fraud, one count of criminal attempt to commit theft by deception and one count of criminal conspiracy to commit theft by deception.
Anthony Griffith, 55, 26 North Jefferson St., Apt. 203, New Castle, Lawrence County, is charged with one count of insurance fraud and one count of criminal attempt to commit theft by deception.
Shante Reed, 33, 202 Park Ave., New Castle, Lawrence County, is charged with one count of insurance fraud, one count of criminal attempt to commit theft by deception and one count of identity theft.
(A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty.)